Obituaries

Jan 1, 2024

Columbiana - Shirley Ann Stryffeler, 92, passed peacefully from this earth on Monday, January 1, 2024, at her home in Columbiana.

She was born on August 24, 1931, in Paris, Ohio, to the late Edward and Myrtle McNutt Ryser. Deeply affected by The Great Depression, her childhood was spent living (blissfully content) in a basement home her...

Dec 29, 2023

Mary E. Ross, age 81, of Leetonia, passed away on Friday, December 29, 2023, at Hospice House, Poland.

She was born on September 18, 1942, in Youngstown, daughter of the late Ralph and Susan Altomare.

Mary was a Homemaker and a lifetime member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.  She was highly involved with the Mission...

Dec 27, 2023

Our father, Gerald VanFossan, has gone home to God on December 27, 2023 after a terrible battle against Parkinson’s Disease and dementia. Our mother, Nancy, was the love of his life and has walked beside him through every step of this battle.  Gerald was born on November 19,1943 at the family farm in Leetonia, to his parents, the late...

Dec 23, 2023

Rogers - Dorothy M. Gumbel, age 91, of Rogers, passed away on Saturday, December 23, 2023, at her home after a brave fight with vascular dementia.

She was born on June 27, 1932, in East Palestine, OH, the daughter of the late Everett and Nancy Tullis George.

Dorothy was a graduate of New Waterford High...

Dec 20, 2023

Columbiana - Jim Freeman, age 82, of Columbiana, died on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

He was born on December 27, 1940, in Canton, son of the late Roger and Mae Freeman.

James was a lifelong educator for over 42 years and contributed to countless schools over the years,...

Dec 17, 2023

Leetonia - Susan Kellner, age 69, of Leetonia, passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on June 8, 1954, in Salem, daughter of Walter and Ruth Weber DeRhodes.

Susan is survived by her husband, James Kellner; three children, Sara (Jim) Graham of North Jackson, Valerie Bates of...

Dec 16, 2023

Canfield – Robert “Bob” Thomas, 84, passed away peacefully at home, on Saturday December 16, 2023, after a yearlong battle with cancer.

He was born on August 20, 1939, in Canfield, to the late William E. and Mabel R. Thomas

Bob was a graduate of Canfield High School, class of 1957. He started Bob Thomas...

Dec 15, 2023

Columbiana - Leona "Cookie" Wentz, age 77, of Columbiana, died on Friday, December 15, 2023, at Salem Regional Medical Center.

She was born on February 3, 1946, in Salem, daughter of the late Robert and Mildred Randolph Halverstadt.

Cookie had worked as a caregiver and was a member of the East Fairfield United Methodist Church....

Dec 15, 2023

Columbiana - Everett J. Lehman “Mr. Fix It”, age 77, of Columbiana, went home to be with Jesus on Friday, December 15, 2023.

He was born on December 7, 1946, in Salem, to the late Joseph and Thelma Good Lehman.

Everett retired from South Range schools after 33 and a half years as custodian, his...

Dec 10, 2023

Elkton - Patricia A. Baker, age 69, of Elkton, died on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Continuing Healthcare of Lisbon.

She was born on April 12, 1954, in Youngstown, daughter of the late John and Josephine Nuskievicz Sakoman.

Patricia had worked as an air traffic controller for Hopkins International Airport. She was a graduate of...

Dec 7, 2023

Columbiana - Barbara L. Hall, age 75, of Columbiana, passed away Thursday morning, December 7, 2023, at Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital.

Barbara was born on September 5, 1948, in Salem, daughter of the late Fred and Mary Hasness Drotleff.

Barbara had worked as a LPN for the former South Side and North Side...

Dec 4, 2023

Canfield - Gene R. Baker, age 74, of Canfield, passed away at home with his family on Monday, December 4, 2023.

He was born on June 1, 1949, in Salem, OH, son of the late Earl and Zella Gordon Baker.

Gene had worked as a meat manager for 27 years. He was a member of...

Dec 1, 2023

New Waterford, OH - Carol Bretz, 74, passed away on December 1, 2023, after a brief illness.  She lived her life in her childhood home that was built by her grandfather, Joseph Bretz.  Born on November 14, 1949, Carol was the daughter of Carl and Hazel (Bowers) Bretz.  She was a 1968 graduate of Crestview High School.  Carol completed...

Dec 1, 2023

Dawn Ellen Kording, age 80, of Columbiana, died on Friday, December 1, 2023, at Windsor House at Parkside Health Care Center, Columbiana.

She was born on January 24, 1943, in East Palestine, daughter of the late Donn and Wanda Munyon Rowland.

Dawn had worked as a Supervisor with the FBI for 33 years. She was...

Nov 30, 2023

"Together Again"

Washingtonville - Thomas "Tom" T. Mellott, Sr., age 74, of Washingtonville, passed away with his family by his side, on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at the Windsor House at St. Mary's Alzheimer's Center, Columbiana.

He was born on May 27, 1949, in Salem, a son of the late Coy and Ida Mae Fieldhouse...

Nov 29, 2023

New Springfield- Elwood Marvin "Marv" Zembower Jr. age 80, of New Springfield, OH, passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at the Hospice House in North Lima, following complications from a stroke.

Marv was born on February 22, 1943, in New Springfield, a son of the late Elwood Marvin Zembower Sr. and the late Eleanor Pauline Bucklew...

Nov 23, 2023

Columbiana - Richard Kenneth McKee of Columbiana passed away November 23, 2023, at the age of 96. He was born July 4, 1927, in Youngstown, son of Kenneth W, and Isabel H. McKee, growing up in the Fosterville area near Idora Parke Dick entered the US. Navy in 1945. In 1950 he married Leona J. Braden and started RX....

Nov 23, 2023

David W. Solmen, age 61, of Columbiana, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 23, 2023, at his home after he courageously and stubbornly fought a three-year battle with cancer.

He was born on April 5, 1962, in Fort McClellan, AL, son of the late Paul and Patricia Solmen.

Dave worked for three decades at Heluva...

Nov 23, 2023

Carol A. Morrow, age 85, of Columbiana, died at home on Thursday, November 23, 2023.

She was born on January 3, 1938, in Leetonia, a daughter of the late Alfred and Esther Krautner Girard.

Carol was a licensed beautician and retired as a supervisor from the Ohio Turnpike Commission where she had worked for 25...

Nov 21, 2023

Leetonia - Matthew Dale Grossen, 43, of Leetonia passed away on November 21, 2023, at his home following a recent illness.

Born September 22, 1980, to Walter and Terry Dailey Grossen.  Matthew was a graduate of Crestview High School and studied at YSU and Kent Salem. He learned to play the guitar at the young age of...